Debate contribution: Social Workers: Safeguarding, Early Intervention and Family Support
Debate contribution by Mr Mike Nesbitt on .
- MLA
- Mr Mike Nesbitt
- Party at the time
- Ulster Unionist Party
- Date
- 29 June 2026
- Type
- Debate contribution
- Business
- Oral Answers to Questions
- Heading
- Social Workers: Safeguarding, Early Intervention and Family Support
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 5644865
Read the official Assembly record
Text
I assure the Member that I very much value the work of social care workers, social workers and everybody who is delivering health and social care. I have often said that there are five elements in its delivery — buildings, beds, equipment, medicine and the workforce — and that the first four do not add up to a hill of beans if you do not have a workforce that is properly trained, properly motivated and well rewarded. Again, that takes me to the disappointment of not being able to implement the real living wage last September, as I had wanted to do. I acknowledge that capacity pressures remain a significant concern across the HSC. Increasing acuity, rising demand and challenges in recruiting and retaining staff continue to place strain on teams. That impacts on the ability to deliver preventative work, which, of course, is what I want, and statutory safeguarding functions to the desired standards. Yes, we are far from where we need to be.
165 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
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